Mamie Smith (1883-1946) was the first African-American female performer to make a vocal blues recording in 1920 with "Crazy Blues". The song was written by Perry Bradford and it was recorded on August 10, 1920, by Mamie Smith and Her Jazz Hounds.

Mamie Smith & her Jazz Hounds - Crazy blues (1920)

I can't sleep at nightI can't eat a bite'cause the man I loveHe don't treat me right.He makes me feel so blue.I don't know what to do.Sometime I sit and sighAnd then begin to cry'cause my best friendSaid his last goodbye.There's a change in the ocean,Change in the deep blue sea, my baby,I'll tell yo,u folks, there ain't no change in me.My love for that man will always be.Now I can read his letters.I sure can't read his mind.I thought he's lovin' me.He's leavin' all the time.Now I see my poor love was blind.Now I got the crazy blues since my baby went away.I ain't got no time to lose.I must find him today.Now the doctor's gonna do all that he can.But what you're gonna need is an undertaker man.I ain't had nothin' but bad news.Now I got the crazy blues.